THE operations and maintenance base for the new £2 billion Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm will create up to 50 jobs in the Scottish Borders area for the 25-year lifespan of the facility.

The base was opened in Eyemouth yesterday (Wednesday January 25) by Net Zero Secretary Michael Matheson.

It will see turbines located about 9.6 miles (15.5km) off the Fife coast, and when up and running the project could generate 450 megawatts (MW) of electricity – enough to power around 375,000 homes.

READ MORE: Police tackle illegal parking in two Borders towns

Mr Matheson stressed the Scottish Government’s “vision to ramp up renewables production and secure a bright future for our energy sector”.

He added: “As well as standing ready to provide state-of-the-art facilities for the Neart na Gaoithe project, this new operations and maintenance base in Eyemouth is a prime example of how new offshore installations can create and sustain good green jobs, and also bring wider, long-lasting benefits to the local community, businesses and economy.”

Seven technicians from the area have already been recruited and will begin work in February.

The O&M base was sensitively designed to fit in with its surroundings at Eyemouth Harbour by Corstorphine + Wright architects and built by Fife-based Muir Construction. The land on which it is located is leased from Eyemouth Harbour Trust with the revenues from the lease supporting further investment by the Trust in the harbour itself, which is a working fishing port.

Matthieu Hue, chief executive officer of EDF Renewables UK, hailed the new operations and maintenance base as a “great example of our commitment to investing in Scotland”, saying Scottish firms had been used in its construction, with “high-quality jobs and strong economic benefits for the 25-year lifespan of the wind farm”.

READ MORE: Melrose winger Robin Sharp appointed Left Hand Man for 2023

He added: “We already have 10 onshore wind farms in Scotland and our large development pipeline will allow us to expand our contribution to delivering more low carbon and affordable renewables capacity.”

John O’Connor, the senior manager responsible for ESB’s generation projects, said: “The Neart na Gaoithe project is an important part of ESB’s ambition and commitment to building a low carbon generation portfolio of scale.

“The opening of the operations and maintenance (O&M) base on site is a significant milestone in this project as we work together to bring clean renewable power to the people of Scotland and help the country achieve its climate targets.”

READ MORE: Dancing through the Decades disco for Doddie this weekend

Matthias Haag, NnG project director, said: “I’m immensely proud of the facility that we’ve built here, which is one of the most advanced O&M bases of any wind farm in the world.

“It will ensure not only that the NnG wind farm runs efficiently but that we put the safety and welfare of our people front and centre as they look after the operations of the NNG wind farm.”